Annual Report 2012 - Equality Now

Founded in 1992, Equality Now is an international human rights organization that works to protect and promote the rights of women and girls around the world ...
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Equality Now Celebrating 20 years of advocacy and action 1992-2012

2012 Annual Report . I

Equality Now

Founded in 1992, Equality Now is an international human rights organization that works to protect and promote the rights of women and girls around the world through the areas of Discrimination in Law, Sexual Violence, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and Trafficking. Equality Now combines grassroots activism with international, regional and national legal advocacy to achieve legal and systemic change to benefit women and girls, and works to ensure that governments enact and enforce laws and policies that uphold their rights. The organization’s Equality Action Network is comprised of groups and individuals in more than 160 countries. Equality Now envisions a world where women and girls have equal rights under the law and full enjoyment of those rights. www.equalitynow.org Fundada en 1992, Igualdad Ya es una organización internacional de derechos Humanos que trabaja para proteger y promover los derechos de mujeres y niñas en todo el mundo en las áreas de Discriminación en la ley, Violencia sexual, Mutilación genital femenina y Trata de personas. Igualdad Ya combina el activismo de base con campañas legales de nivel internacional, regional y local para conseguir un cambio legal y sistémico favorable a las mujeres, y lucha para garantizar la promulgación y la consolidación de leyes y políticas que defiendan sus derechos por parte de los gobiernos. La Red Acción de Igualdad Ya está formada por grupos y particulares presentes en más de 160 países. Igualdad Ya concibe un mundo en el que las mujeres tengan los mismos derechos ante la ley y puedan disfrutar totalmente de ellos. www.equalitynow.org Egalité Maintenant est une organisation internationale de défense des droits humains fondée en 1992 qui travaille à protéger et promouvoir les droits des femmes et des filles dans le monde. Nous nous concentrons sur la discrimination juridique, les violences sexuelles, les mutilations génitales féminines (MGF) et la traite des femmes et des filles. En combinant activisme de terrain et plaidoyer juridique aux niveaux national, régional et international, l’organisation réalise des changements juridiques et systémiques en faveur des femmes et des filles, et veille à ce que les gouvernements adoptent et appliquent des lois et des politiques qui défendent leurs droits. Le Réseau Action d’Egalité Maintenant est composé de groupes et d’individus répartis dans plus de 160 pays. Egalité Maintenant imagine un monde dans lequel les femmes et les filles auront les mêmes droits en vertu de la loi et pourront pleinement jouir de ceux-ci. www.equalitynow.org

www.equalitynow.org 2 . Equality Now

Impact of Equality Now: More than half of the 63 national laws highlighted in Equality Now’s reports on sex discrimination in law have been repealed or amended by their respective governments ▪ 36 of 54 AU member states have ratified the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa ▪ Equality Now Taken on the US military on its role in promoting sex trafficking the UK ▪ Organized the first Summit of Afghan Women after the fall of the Taliban ▪ Taken on the US military on its role in promoting sex trafficking ▪ UN General Assembly passed an April, Equality Now reached a FGM, milestone—20 years of▪ working to the first historic nresolution banning globally Among protect and as promote the humantraditional rights of women practice and girls around thehuman to identify FGM a harmful and world. What began as a small, dedicated team of volunteers working ▪ Amplifying the voices of local women rights violation with local human rights groups and individual activists has grown into regionally and organization. internationally ▪ Helped push the frontiers of a truly global international law Impact of Equality Now: More than half of trafficking,laws reproductive rights, sex discriminatory laws, domesticreports on the 63Sex national highlighted in Equality Now’s violence and female genital mutilation were not seen as issues of global sex discrimination in law have been repealed or amended by concern for the mainstream human rights movement in our early years. ▪ 36andofour54global AUpartners member their respective We take pride in governments the fact that Equality Now helped states have ratifi Protocol on theto achieving Rightslegal of Women changeed thatthe and we remain committed and systemicin Africa change for thehas benefibecome t of all women and of girls.the preeminent voices on ▪ Equality Now one ▪ Organized the first Summit of Afghan endingGoing FGM in the UKlook forward, we will to better communicate the need for gender Women after fall of the Taliban ▪peace Taken theWeUS equality andthe its importance for development, and on security. willmilitary on its role in promoting sex trafficking UNyoung General Assembly also work to bring more people—especially men ▪and people—into theto movement. the first identify FGM as a harmful traditional practice and humanWhether rightsyouviolation ▪ Amplifying of local joined with us in 1992, 2002 orthe 2012,voices we value your supportwomen regionally and internationally ▪ Helped and look forward to partnering with you for our nextpush 20 years!the frontiers of international law Impact of Equality Now: More than half of Warm regards, the 63 national laws highlighted in Equality Now’s reports on sex discrimination in law have been repealed or amended by their respective governments ▪ 36 of 54 AU member states have ratified theYasmeen Protocol theDirector Rights of Women in Africa Hassan,on Global Taken on the US military on its role in promoting sex trafficking UN General Assembly passed historic resolution banning FGM ▪ Equality Now has become one of the preeminent voices on ending FGM in the UK ▪ Organized the first Summit of Afghan Women after the fall of the Taliban ▪ Amplifies the voices of local women regionally and internationally ▪ Among the first to identify FGM as a harmful traditional practice and human 2012 2012 Annual AnnualReport Report . 3 rights violation ▪ Helped push the frontiers of international law

1992-2012: 20 Years in Review

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1992-2012: regard sur les 20 dernières années En avril, Egalité Maintenant a franchi une étape importante: 20 ans passés à protéger et promouvoir les droits humains des femmes et des filles à travers le monde. Ce qui était au départ une petite équipe de bénévoles dévoués travaillant avec des activistes particuliers et des groupes de droits humains régionaux, est devenu une organisation d’envergure internationale. Lors de nos premières années d’activité, la traite à des fins sexuelles, les droits en matière de reproduction, les lois discriminatoires en fonction du sexe, les violences domestiques et les mutilations génitales féminines n’étaient pas considérés comme des questions d’intérêt général par les organisations de droits humains plus traditionnelles. Nous sommes fiers du fait qu’Egalité Maintenant et nos partenaires internationaux ont contribué à changer cela et restons déterminés à réaliser des changements juridiques et systémiques pour le bénéfice de toutes les femmes et les filles. Dans les années à venir, nous nous efforcerons de mieux exposer la nécessité de parvenir à l’égalité des sexes ainsi que son importance pour le développement, la paix et la sécurité. Nous chercherons également à amener plus de gens, en particulier les hommes et les jeunes, à participer au mouvement. Que vous nous ayez rejoints en 1992, 2002 ou 2012, nous apprécions votre soutien et nous nous réjouissons de collaborer avec vous lors de nos 20 prochaines années! Cordialement, Yasmeen Hassan, directrice globale

1992-2012: un repaso de los últimos 20 años Este mes de abril, Igualdad Ya alcanzó un hito, 20 años de trabajo dedicados a proteger y promover los derechos humanos de las mujeres de todo el mundo. Lo que empezó siendo una colaboración de un equipo pequeño y entregado de voluntarios con los grupos locales defensores de los derechos humanos y con activistas individuales, ha crecido hasta convertirse en una organización realmente global. El tráfico sexual, los derechos reproductivos, las leyes discriminatorias por razón de sexo, la violencia de género y la mutilación genital femenina, no eran considerados asuntos de interés global para el movimiento de los derechos humanos existente en aquellos primeros años. Nos sentimos orgullosos del hecho de que Igualdad Ya y nuestros socios mundiales hayan impulsado el cambio y mantenemos nuestro compromiso por la lucha para conseguir un cambio jurídico y sistémico favorable a todas las mujeres. En el futuro buscaremos la manera de comunicar mejor la necesidad de alcanzar la igualdad de género y su importancia para el desarrollo, la paz y la seguridad. También lucharemos para conseguir que un mayor número de personas, sobre todo hombres y jóvenes, se incorpore al movimiento. ¡Independientemente de si empezó a colaborar con nosotros en 1992, en el 2002 o en el 2012, agradecemos su apoyo y esperamos seguir contando con su ayuda durante los próximos 20 años! Un afectuoso saludo, Yasmeen Hassan, Directora General

4 . Equality Now

Campaigns & Urgent Alerts 2012

maRCH —Global: call on Village Voice Media to stop facilitating sex trafficking —morocco: End the legal exemption for rapists who marry their victims maY —United States: call for zero tolerance on demand that fuels sex trafficking —egypt: Stop the lowering of the minimum age of marriage for girls —Yemen: End child marriages by enacting and enforcing a minimum age of marriage law —Rwanda: Ensure access to safe legal abortions JUne —Sudan: Stop the stoning of Intisar Sharif Abdalla —Saudi arabia: continued call for the repeal of the ban on women driving —Liberia: Enact a law banning FGM JULY —Global: repeal sex discriminatory laws aUGUSt —Pakistan: Protect human rights defenders and ensure justice for murdered activists SePtemBeR —Indonesia: End government legitimization of FGM oCtoBeR —United States: Sexual assault of women in the military must be stopped

©Suzanna Finley

noVemBeR —Jordan: Give women equal citizenship rights to men —Uganda: Properly investigate and prosecute cases of sexual violence against girls with disabilities —egypt: Protect women’s full equality in the new constitution DeCemBeR —egypt: Delay constitutional referendum until its provisions protect equality for all Egyptians 2012 2012Annual AnnualReport Report . 5

20th Anniversary Celebration

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quality Now marked our 20-year milestone on 19 April with a celebration in New York City, attended by 300 guests. Hosted by Tony Award-winning playwright and Advisory Board member, Sarah Jones, and written and directed by Academy Award nominee, Emmy Award winner and Advisory Board member Joss Whedon, the variety-style show featured a talented cast who used humor, drama and video to creatively explore and highlight Equality Now’s core thematic issues. The evening was rounded out with live music and an energetic dance performance.

Clockwise from top left: Joss Whedon, Navanethem Pillay, Vanessa Redgrave, Debra Winger, Sarah Jones, Jessica Neuwirth and Yasmeen Hassan with the “When I Speak” cast members; Sarah Jones in character; Meg Ryan and Leonard Nimoy; Neil Casey and Daphne Zuniga perform “Evil Robot”; Pamela Shifman, Bonnie Schaefer and Peter & Jennifer Buffett

6 . Equality Now

Clockwise from top left: Jamal Jackson Dance Company performs; Equality Now’s Karen Asare, Mehr Qureshi, Antonia Kirkland and Kristen Berg; Marcela Barry, Sophie Hearn and Eden Sanaa Duncan-Smith perform “When I Speak”; April 2012 Congressional Record pays tribute to Equality Now courtesy of U.S. Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney; Sue Smalley & Kevin Wall

Clockwise from top left: Joss Whedon and Vanessa Redgrave; Nairobi Director Faiza Jama Mohamed and London Director Jacqui Hunt with co-founders Jessica Neuwirth and Navanethem Pillay, and Board Members Colette De Troy and Maha Abu-Dayyeh Shamas; Laura Linney performs; “Zombie” cast members Debra Winger, Dan Mersh and Eliza Dushku; Natalie Merchant performs; Equality Now’s Yasmeen Hassan and Suzanna Finley PHOTOS cOUrTESY OF Suzanna Finley, Getty Images & Jenny Warburg

2012 Annual Report . 7

Campaign Snapshot  Focus in  DISCRImInatIon In LaW • GLOBAL: repeal/amend sex discriminatory laws • AFrIcA: Push for the ratification & implementation of the Protocol on the rights of Women in Africa • EGYPT: Promote women’s rights post-revolution • LEBANON & JOrDAN: reform sex discriminatory nationality laws • MOrOccO: Eliminate the legal exemption for rapists who marry their victims • SAUDI ArABIA: End the male guardianship system over women & the ban on women driving • UK: challenge harmful representations of women in the British press

©Suzanna Finley

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 SeXUaL VIoLenCe • KENYA: Ensure police accountability in cases of sexual violence against adolescent girls • KYrGYZSTAN: End bride kidnapping • PAKISTAN: Enact a law against incest, reform procedures on sexual violence & end police impunity for violence against women and girls • SAUDI ArABIA & YEMEN: Ban child marriage • UGANDA: Implement special measures for disabled victims of sexual violence • USA: Protect women in the military from sexual violence & ensure their access to justice • ZAMBIA: Empower girls & establish systems to prevent sexual violence 8 . Equality Now

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2012

 femaLe GenItaL mUtILatIon (fGm)

©Suzanna Finley

• INDONESIA: Stop government legitimization of FGM • KENYA & NIGEr: Strengthen implementation of anti-FGM law • LIBErIA & MALI: Establish a law banning FGM • UK: create & implement a government strategy to end FGM • USA: Amend anti-FGM law to criminalize taking girls out of the country for FGM

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 tRaffICKInG • BrAZIL & USA: Implement U.S. anti-trafficking laws to protect girls exploited by U.S. sex tourists overseas • GLOBAL: Ensure that HIV/AIDS prevention work does not adversely impact anti-trafficking work • USA: Enforce government zero tolerance policies for the buying of sex by its employees 2012 Annual Report . 9

Steps to Progress: Impact of our

20 YEARS OF IMPACT

Equality Now was founded at a time when most human rights organizations did not focus on women’s rights. Many of the issues we took on were largely unknown in the public sphere and weren’t being thoroughly addressed by UN agencies, such as sex trafficking and the practice of FGM. We helped change this paradigm. We were one of the first international women’s rights organizations to support the efforts of grassroots partners and systematically link their issues to international advocacy. Over half of the discriminatory laws we highlighted in our campaigns have been amended or repealed. We have never shied away from taking on difficult or controversial issues. When the Taliban fell in Afghanistan, we organized the first summit of Afghan women to inform their future. We took on the Pakistani government for failing to prevent the destruction of girls’ schools in Swat valley. We held the U.S. military to account for its role in promoting sex trafficking and were the first organization to tackle sex tourism. We have helped push the frontiers of international law—whether in the context of the rape of Bosnian women or femicides in Mexico. We helped draft the Protocol on the rights of Women in Africa, a landmark regional treaty, and spearheaded a continent-wide coalition of NGOs in Solidarity for African Women’s rights (SOAWr coalition) to push for its adoption and ratification. We have held UN agencies to account when they have failed to protect women’s rights. Equality Now is dedicated to achieving legal and systemic change on behalf of women and girls around the world and we look forward to our next 20 years of advocacy and action.

Women’s Rights in Post-Revolution Egypt Despite the political instability and dissolution of Parliament in Egypt, Equality Now continues to strategize with and support our partners’ activities in the region. Working primarily through the media, human rights mechanisms and individual campaigns, we spoke out on discrimination and the backsliding on women’s rights since the Arab Uprisings.

Addressing Violence Against Girls in Zambia

Demonstrating for a democratic Egypt ©UN Women/Enas Abu ElKomsan

10 . Equality Now

We concluded our third year of supporting the Tisunge Ana Athu Akhazi Coalition, working to end violence against girls and raise public awareness of the issue. To date, 2000 girls and boys have taken part in Safe Spaces and Boys’ Network clubs, respectively; 16 plays reaching 3000 community members were performed; a combined 170 legal, medical and media professionals attended training workshops; and filming began on a documentary

Campaigns focusing on this issue. The Coalition continues to work on developing and implementing guidelines targeting violence against girls in schools.

Child Marriage in Saudi Arabia Following two years of advocacy on behalf of Fatima, a 12-year-old Saudi girl whose father sold her in marriage to a 50-year-old man, Fatima received her divorce papers without having to pay back the dower in November. Equality Now and our partners continue to call on the Kingdom to institute a minimum age of marriage in accordance with internationally recommended standards, and to put an end to the male guardianship system that is facilitating child marriages.

Ending Bride Kidnapping in Kyrgyzstan

Equality Now’s Adolescent Girls’ Legal Defense Fund report, Feb. 2012

Following a campaign asking the government to step up its efforts to address bride kidnapping, Equality Now was informed that the Kyrgyz Public Prosecutor’s office has taken steps to strengthen investigations of bride kidnapping cases across the country. In December, the Kyrgyz Parliament approved a bill to strengthen legislation against the practice. We are now working with our partners to ensure that the law is implemented.

Combating Online Facilitation of Sex Trafficking In March, Equality Now launched a campaign targeting Village Voice Media-owned website, Backpage.com, whose “adult” sections normalize and provide an easy, anonymous method for commercial sexual exploitation of women and girls by traffickers and pimps. 48 State Attorneys General, 45 City Mayors, District Attorneys, Congress Members, and countless NGOs, activists, survivors, Trafficking Program Officer Kristen Berg at rally protesting Village Voice’s artists and journalists joined online facilitation of sex trafficking, Mar. 2012 the movement. In April, New York office staff testified before the New York City Council, resulting in the passage of a resolution calling for the removal of Backpage.com.

Brazil/U.S. Sex Tourism Case Can Proceed In November, a U.S. judge granted the motion to lift the stay in the civil case of a U.S. company operating sex tours in Brazil so that the case can proceed. Government officials, journalists and civil society organizations in Brazil are using this case to expose sex tourism in the region. 2012 Annual Report . 11

Steps to Progress, continued Banning FGM Globally As a result of sustained efforts by Equality Now and our partners, in December the UN General Assembly passed a resolution banning FGM that was led by African countries. This marks the first time that the General Assembly has agreed to include the elimination of FGM on its agenda.

Targeting FGM in the UK In our second year as Secretariat of the All Party Parliamentary Group on FGM, Nairobi staff members Caroline Muthoni and Mary London office staff has undertaken extensive Ciugu with Hawa Aden Mohammed of the Galkayo efforts to successfully raise the visibility of Education Centre for Peace and Development this issue through the media, conferences, and community outreach and with the UK Home Office. The Director of Public Prosecutions published an action plan on improving prosecutions, and upon our recommendation, the Home Office published a “Health Passport” targeting FGM in 11 languages, which lists Equality Now as a resource.

Protecting Girls from FGM in Kenya

TNI founder and coordinator Agnes Pareyio with girls at Tasaru girls rescue center in Kenya

Equality Now partnered with the Tasaru Ntomonok Initiative (TNI) to strengthen the existing community child protection mechanism to end FGM in Kenya. We are working with professionals, community leaders and law enforcement agents with the goal of protecting girls from undergoing FGM. TNI also conducted awareness-raising workshops for targeted communities, successfully conducted two reconciliation meetings and supported more than 50 girls who underwent an alternative rite of passage without the cut.

Closing Legal Loopholes on FGM in the U.S. As a result of Equality Now and partner efforts, Congress passed the ‘Transport for Female Genital Mutilation’ law as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act in December. The law criminalizes the transport of girls abroad to subject them to FGM and will be signed into law in January. 12 . Equality Now

Empowering Girls

Adolescent Girls’ Legal Defense Fund (AGLDF) Keeping girls safe at home, at school and in their communities Over the years, Equality Now has been honored to work with courageous girls who have bravely challenged their treatment and denial of rights, so that the world can be a better place for other girls. With this in mind, we created the Adolescent Girls’ Legal Defense Fund in 2008 to establish legal precedents to prevent and better address future violations of girls’ rights. In collaboration with grassroots organizations, we work with girls, their families and lawyers to navigate often complex legal systems and create public awareness of the issues locally, Equality Now staff with members of the The Arts Effect NYC after nationally and internationally. International Day of the Girl Child performance, Oct. 2012

Through 2012, the AGLDF has undertaken nine cases in eight countries strategically selected to address the most common and significant human rights abuses of adolescent girls. These include: sex tourism in Brazil/USA, abduction, rape and forced marriage in Ethiopia, FGM and gang rape in Kenya, incest and gang rape in Pakistan, rape of girls with disabilities in Uganda, child marriage in Yemen and teacher rape in Zambia. In February, with the support of the Nike Foundation, we published Learning from Cases of Girls’ Rights, a comprehensive report consolidating knowledge gained from the program. Stemming from this report, Equality “What I have gone through made me Now commissioned When I Speak, a dramatic lose my ambitions, but now I have piece illustrating three of the AGLDF cases, from started a new life full of flying colors. Advisory Board member Joss Whedon, which I am glad to have people like you was performed at our 20th anniversary event, at supporting me in my time of need.” multiple advocacy events and is available online.

International Day of the Girl Child

Girls rap about the “The F-Word” (Feminist)

–rape survivor Niara, age 17, Kenya

11 October marked the inaugural International Day of the Girl Child. It was a day of advocacy and action, by and for girls, to highlight, celebrate and foster discussion, and advance girls’ lives and opportunities around the world. Equality Now recognized this day with an event at the home of Advisory Board member, Lela Goren, which amplified the power of girls’ voices to affect change. Members of The Arts Effect All-Girl Theater Company and the Project Girl Performance Collective, engrossed the audience as they performed When I Speak and original pieces written and performed by the talented girls. 2012 Annual Report . 13

Highlights

Above, participants of an Equality Now Lawyers Training in Dakar, Senegal with Minister of Justice, Madam Aminata Touré, Jul. 2012

Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa (Protocol) The SOAWR coalition, of which Equality Now serves as the Secretariat, continues to be a driving force in the adoption of the Protocol. Coˆte D’Ivoire, the Congo, Guinea, Swaziland and Cameroon became the 32nd through 36th African Union member states to ratify the treaty, resulting in a 67% overall ratification rate. Our Nairobi office staff continues to train lawyers and activists on the effective use of the Protocol, with a special focus on Francophone Africa in 2012.

Challenging the harmful representation of women in the British press In 2011, Prime Minister David Cameron launched an investigation into press ethics and journalism practices in the UK, known as the Leveson Inquiry. Equality Now and partners End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW), Eaves Housing and Object subsequently came together and presented testimony to the Inquiry in January, making Holly Dustin, Director of the EVAW a strong argument that the pervasive sexual objectification coalition, and Jacqui Hunt discuss and stereotypical portrayals of women in the press, and the Leveson campaign the culture of victim-blaming in cases of violence against women, limited women’s democratic participation and their access to justice. The coalition also published an evaluation of sexism in British national papers that was submitted to the Prime Minister’s office. The campaign garnered significant media coverage and several of the coalitions’ concerns and recommendations were included in the Inquiry’s official report. 14 14 .. Equality EqualityNow Now

©Lynn Savarese

Profiles BoaRD PRofILe: JeSSICa neUWIRtH

PaRtneR PRofILe: aZZa SULeIman

Jessica Neuwirth co-founded Equality Now and serves as President of the Board and UK Trustees. Equality Now was built on her vision of a strategic and effective international women’s rights organization that could set a standard for grassroots activism and translate women’s needs into national, regional and international law, policy and practice. Her passion and dedication to ending violence and discrimination against women and girls provided the foundation that has allowed Equality Now to become the respected organization that it is today. Over the years, Jessica has also worked in the UN Office of Legal Affairs and as Director of the New York Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights; served as a special consultant on sexual violence to the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda; and organized the UN high-level panel on reparations for sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Advocating for Equal Rights for Egypt’s Women Azza Suleiman, a prominent campaigner, powerful lobbyist and leading advocate for human rights, envisions an Egypt where women are respected and equality and justice are shared by all. Since 1995, she has been the Director of the Center of Egyptian Women’s Legal Assistance (CEWLA), providing legal, social and psychological aid primarily to impoverished women, and advocating against FGM, honor crimes and discriminatory laws. CEWLA successfully built a 72-member coalition to combat violence against women throughout Egypt and implemented a comprehensive program addressing incest, rape and inheritance. The organization also has training programs for men and women to raise their gender awareness and to create community dialogue on the importance of participating in the formation of a new constitution that takes gender issues into account. Azza has partnered with Equality Now for more than a decade and worked with us to lobby for the UN Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and in practice.

2012 2012Annual AnnualReport Report . 15

FAITS MARQUANTS DIScrIMINATION JUrIDIQUE: Egalité Maintenant continue de cibler les lois discriminatoires en fonction du sexe et, en 2012, une de ces lois a été modifiée en Argentine. En Jordanie, nous avons également lancé une campagne qui vise spécifiquement à abroger les lois sur la nationalité qui sont discriminatoires en fonction du sexe. Notre action en faveur de la ratification et de la mise en œuvre du Protocole sur les droits des femmes en Afrique a conduit à sa ratification par le Congo, la Guinée, la Côte d’Ivoire, le Swaziland et le Cameroun. Malgré la dissolution du parlement égyptien, nous soutenons les initiatives revendicatrices de nos partenaires et plaidons en faveur de la promotion des droits des femmes dans la période postrévolution. Au Maroc, nous avons lancé une campagne qui demande la suppression de l’exemption légale pour les violeurs qui épousent leurs victimes. En Arabie saoudite, nous continuons à faire pression pour mettre fin au système de tutelle masculine. Notre bureau londonien a également lancé une initiative qui a pour objectif de s’attaquer au sexisme présent dans la presse britannique. VIOLENcES SEXUELLES: Egalité Maintenant a fait campagne au Kenya pour que la police soit tenue pour responsable dans les affaires de violences sexuelles contre des adolescentes ; au Pakistan pour l’adoption d’une loi contre l’inceste, pour une réforme des procédures juridiques afin que les victimes de violences sexuelles puissent accéder à la justice, et pour mettre fin à l’impunité policière dans les affaires de violence contre les femmes et les filles ; en Ouganda pour la mise en œuvre de mesures spéciales en faveur des personnes handicapées victimes de violences sexuelles; aux EtatsUnis pour protéger les femmes militaires des violences sexuelles et leur garantir un accès à la justice, et en Arabie saoudite et au Yémen pour interdire les mariages précoces. En Arabie saoudite, nous avons réussi à obtenir le divorce pour une fille qui avait été vendue en mariage à l’âge de 12 ans. Notre campagne pour mettre fin au mariage par enlèvement au Kirghizistan a débouché sur l’adoption d’un projet de loi contre la pratique. En Zambie, nous avons également entamé notre troisième année de soutenir d’une coalition locale qui œuvre pour mettre fin aux violences contre les filles et sensibiliser le public à ce problème.

TrAITE DES FEMMES ET DES FILLES: au nom de quatre brésiliennes victimes de tourisme sexuel, Egalité Maintenant continue de collaborer à la première action judicaire au civil contre une société américaine organisatrice de tourisme sexuel en Amazonie. Nous avons également lancé des campagnes pour demander au gouvernement américain qu’il applique ses politiques de tolérance zéro en cas d’achat de services sexuels de la part de fonctionnaires, et, parce qu’elle facilite la traite sexuelle sur Internet, pour que Village Voice Media ferme partout dans le monde la section « annonces adultes » de leur site Backpage. com. Des membres de notre bureau new-yorkais ont témoigné devant le conseil municipal de New York, ce qui a entraîné le passage d’une résolution appelant à la suppression de la rubrique adulte de Backpage. com. Egalité Maintenant a également dirigé une coalition globale qui a pour but de veiller à ce que les initiatives de l’ONU en faveur de la prévention du VIH/sida ne nuisent pas à la lutte contre la traite. 16 . Equality Now

©Yasmeen Hassan

MUTILATIONS GENITALES FEMININES: Egalité Maintenant continue à plaider pour une loi qui interdise les MGF au Libéria et au Mali, et pour renforcer la mise en œuvre de la législation anti-MGF au Kenya et au Niger. En Indonésie, nous avons également lancé une campagne pour mettre fin à la légitimation des MGF par le gouvernement. Dans le cadre de notre deuxième année en tant que responsable du secrétariat du Groupe britannique parlementaire multipartite sur les MGF, nous avons accru de manière significative la sensibilisation du public à la question et le procureur général a publié une stratégie de renforcement des poursuites judiciaires. Aux Etats-Unis, nos efforts pour combler le vide juridique sur les MGF ont abouti à une loi qui criminalise le transport de filles à l’étranger s’il a pour objectif de les soumettre à des MGF en dehors du pays. Enfin, à la suite d’efforts soutenus de la part d’Egalité Maintenant et de nos partenaires, l’Assemblée générale des Nations Unies a adopté une remarquable résolution conduite par les pays africains qui a pour but d’interdire les MGF dans le monde.

ELEMENTOS DESTACADOS DEL PROGRAMA

©Suzanna Finley

DIScrIMINAcIÓN EN LA LEY: Igualdad Ya continúa luchando contra las leyes discriminatorias por razón de sexo, y en el 2012 consiguió la abolición de esta ley en Argentina. En Jordania lanzamos una campaña específicamente dirigida a la derogación de las leyes de nacionalidad discriminatorias por razón de sexo. Nuestro empeño por impulsar la ratificación e implantación del Protocolo sobre los Derechos de las Mujeres en África, comportó las ratificaciones en el Congo, Guinea, Costa de Marfil, Suazilandia y Camerún. A pesar de la disolución del Parlamento en Egipto, apoyamos la lucha de nuestros socios que aboga por la promoción en la post revolución de los derechos de las mujeres. En Marruecos lanzamos una campaña que exigía la eliminación de la exención legal de los violadores para casarse con sus víctimas. En Arabia Saudí continuamos reclamando la desaparición del sistema de tutela masculina. La oficina de Londres adoptó una iniciativa especial en contra de las representaciones perjudiciales de las mujeres en la prensa británica. VIOLENcIA SEXUAL: Igualdad Ya dio a conocer la responsabilidad policial en casos de violencia sexual contra chicas adolescentes en Kenia; en Pakistán instó la promulgación de una ley contra el incesto y la adopción de los procedimientos legales necesarios para la reforma con el objeto de que las víctimas de violencia sexual puedan acceder a la justicia y se acabe con la impunidad de la policía en los casos de violencia contra las mujeres; en Uganda exigió la implantación de medidas especiales para las mujeres discapacitadas víctimas de violencia sexual; en EE.UU. instamos la protección de las mujeres contra la violencia sexual en el ejército y la garantía de su acceso a la justicia; y exigimos la prohibición del matrimonio infantil en Arabia Saudí y Yemen. En Arabia Saudí conseguimos que una chica que había sido vendida en matrimonio a la edad de 12 años obtuviera el divorcio. Nuestra campaña para acabar con el secuestro de la novia en Kirguistán comportó la aprobación de un proyecto de ley destinado a reforzar la legislación contra la práctica. También acabamos nuestro tercer año de apoyo a una coalición local para acabar con la violencia contra las adolescentes en Zambia y despertar la conciencia pública sobre el tema. LA MUTILAcIÓN GENITAL FEMENINA: Igualdad Ya continúa abogando por una ley que prohíba la MGF en Liberia y Mali y que consolide la implantación de una ley contraria a la MGF en Kenia y Níger. También lanzamos una campaña destinada a parar la legitimación de la MGF por parte del gobierno en Indonesia. En nuestro segundo año como Secretaría del Grupo Parlamentario de Todos los Partidos sobre la MGF en el Reino Unido despertamos la conciencia pública sobre el tema y el Director de la Fiscalía Pública publicó un plan para el aumento del número de juicios. En EE.UU., nuestra lucha por tapar el vacío legal sobre la MGF desembocó en una ley que penaliza el hecho de sacar a las chicas del país para someterlas a la mutilación genital femenina. Y, como consecuencia de los esfuerzos incansables de Igualdad Ya y de sus socios, la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas aprobó una decisión masiva liderada por países africanos para prohibirla MGF a nivel mundial. TrATA DE PErSONAS: Igualdad Ya sigue apoyando el primer caso civil en nombre de las víctimas de turismo sexual en Brasil contra una empresa estadounidense que organizaba excursiones sexuales por el Amazonas. También lanzamos campañas instando al gobierno estadounidense a reforzar sus políticas de tolerancia cero ante la compra de sexo por parte de sus empleados y para que Village Voice Media desmonte sus páginas web Backpage.com de todo el mundo por su negocio de tráfico sexual por Internet. El personal de la oficina de Nueva York testificó ante el Concejo Municipal de Nueva York, lo que comportó la aprobación de una resolución que instaba la eliminación de Backpage.com. Del mismo modo, Igualdad Ya encabezó una coalición mundial que intenta garantizar los esfuerzos de la agencia de las Naciones Unidas para evitar que el VIH/SIDA no sean contraproducentes en la lucha contra el tráfico. 2012 Annual Report . 17

©Suzanna Finley

18 . Equality Now

Global Support

Equality Now is deeply thankful for all our donors, whose support makes our work possible. In particular, we would like to recognize the following organizations and individuals for their generosity. $100,000 and above Comic Relief Foundation Open Society Institute Foundation to Promote Open Society Victoria Gomez-Trenor Inmaat Foundation NEPAD Spanish Fund for African Women’s Empowerment NoVo Foundation The Passport Foundation The Ruth Turner Fund, Inc. Susan L. Smalley and Kevin Wall UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women $50,000 – 99,999 The Banky-Larocque Foundation The Dreitzer Foundation, Inc. ICAP Services North America LLC Chandra Jessee New Field Foundation Fund of Tides Foundation Nike Foundation Rowland & Sylvia Schaefer Family Foundation $25,000 – 49,999 Abigail E. Disney Furlotti Family Foundation Jana Foundation, Inc. The Margaret and Daniel Loeb– Third Point Foundation New York Women’s Foundation Oxfam Great Britain Pfizer, Inc. Bonnie and Rick Rule Shana Alexander Charitable Foundation $10,000 – 24,999 The Bydale Foundation California Community Foundation Carlson Family Foundation, Inc. Eve Ensler Girls Rights Project GUCCI

The Nararo Foundation Laura J. O’Shea Silver Mountain Foundation for the Arts The Wallace Fox Foundation $5,000 – 9,999 Arkay Foundation Culture of Resistance Network Foundation Peggy Darwin Lela Goren Karen Lehner Michael Kassan Stephen King Matt Mullenweg Jessica Neuwirth Robert Neuwirth Joseph H. and Florence A. Roblee Foundation Melissa Salten Rothman Terry & Jane Semel Charitable Foundation $2,000 – 4,999 Deborah T. Ashford Carrie Craven Christine A. Doyle The Gobioff Foundation Barbara W. Gold Greendale Lynn Family Foundation Bertrand Gros Katie Grover Gail McGreevy Harmon and Pamela McGreevy Yasmeen Hassan Ann C. Herbst The Hexberg Family Foundation Jean-Philippe Hottinguer John Hunter Janney Montgomery Scott LLC Marti Jonjak Lauren McCann Susan and Leonard Nimoy Ellen Nusblatt John and Bea Plasse Foundation PECO Foundation

William Reid Erica Schipper Karen A. Simonsen Colleen Smalley Kristin K. Stitz and J. Scott Coleman Anne Trinque UN Women West Africa Regional Office Elizabeth Walters Sarah Wolkowitz $1,000 – 1,999 Stuart Applebaum Nicolas Bauche Andrew Berger Kaye Beth The Blue Gator Foundation, Inc. Twiss Butler Norma Candia Troche Susan Carvalho Alexandra Chasin Michelle Conde Anne M. Connell Leslie Couvillion Christine Currie Nina D’Ambra and Martin Goldberg Joseph D’Errico Gerri V. Davis Kathryn Deegan Caroline Dessaint Elizabeth Dripps Elizabeth A. Evatt Shepard Fairey Rebecca Falik Pierre Yves Firmenich Foundation for a Just Society Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP Kathleen Freston Nathan Gaylinn Pennelope Goodfriend Adrienne and Ervin Gombos The Greenberg Foundation Tara Guber Steven Hammond 2012 Annual Report . 19

Global Support cont. Kari Lynn Hearn David and Nicole Hoover Antoine Housset Kenneth J. Hughes Laura Jaeger Joseph Jordan Nancy Kaplan Daniel Kelly Bo Kyun Kim Karen Krahulik and Susan Allee Frederic Laloum Judy Lotas Tracy Lovatt Jennifer McCarthy Lauren McEwen Kerry McFie Thomas D. Matte Myriam Miedzian Betsy Mitchell Mark Moraes Vanita Murthy Therese Nelson and Robert Vassar Gloria S. Neuwirth New Directions Foundation Norman Foundation, Inc.

Equality Now receives 2nd Annual TrustLaw Impact Award with project partners Latham & Watkins and RBS in London, 3 Dec.

Laurent Normand Mary A. Parsons Paula Ravets David de Rothschild Kulsoom Saeed Ruth Sample Susan Schewel Jacques Seguin

Legacy Society

Elizabeth and Stephen Shafer Leila Shakkour Michelle D. Shardell Rozanne Silverwood Sheila L. Sullivan The TR Family Trust Erica Traut John L. Warden

By donating to Equality Now through their estate plans, members ensure their legacy as champions of the rights of women and girls. Those who wish to remain anonymous are not listed.

In 2012, Browncoats’ global Can’t Stop the Serenity screenings raised

$95,512

20 . Equality Now

Gary Baxel Beverly Benoit Dr. Michele Dayras Ruth Garfield Adrienne Gombos Liz Iannone Laurie Jenkins Kate Lauer John Levin and Diane Keefe Laura A. Lewis Caroline Mcmanus Gloria Neuwirth Alan D. Seget Rosemary Sullivan Erica Taylor Grace Warolin

The 2012 Equality Now Team BoaRD of DIReCtoRS Jessica Neuwirth, President Maha Abu-Dayyeh Shamas, Vice President Colette De Troy, Vice President Heisoo Shin, Secretary Elizabeth Evatt, Acting Treasurer Lisa Alter Katie Grover Tracy Lovatt Sapana Pradhan Malla Susan Smalley Gloria Steinem Helen Zia Yasmeen Hassan, ex-officio UK tRUSteeS Jessica Neuwirth Maha Abu-Dayyeh Shamas Colette De Troy Heisoo Shin Elizabeth Evatt Lisa Alter Meaza Ashenafi Katie Grover Tracy Lovatt Sapana Pradhan Malla Susan Smalley Gloria Steinem Helen Zia aDVISoRY BoaRD Deborah Taylor Ashford Elizabeth Odio Benito Helen Bernstein Sarah Brokaw Winnie Byanyima Edwidge Danticat Amanda Fox Lela Goren Chandra Jessee Sarah Jones Christine Lahti Ann MacDougall Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge Robin Morgan Alanis Morissette

Equality Now Board members and management with co-founder Navi Pillay

Irene Kubota Neves Lynn Nottage Paula Reiser Ellen Rosenthal Joan Ruddock Bonnie Schaefer Marla Schaefer Diala Shamas Meryl Streep Rose Styron Joss Whedon Timothy Wilkins Liz Young

aGLDf aDVISoRY BoaRD Judith Bruce, Chair Lisa Alter Laura Barnett Dale Buscher Elizabeth Evatt Jane Fonda Marianne Gimon Ann Graham Steve Hammond Judge Claire L’Heureux Dubé Carolyn Makinson

A Message from the 2013 Board Co-Chairs

As we recognize and celebrate 20 years of advocacy and action, it is our honor to build on the vision of Jessica Neuwirth, who became Honorary President of Equality Now in 2013 after more than two decades of leading the organization. In the coming years, we welcome the opportunity to position Equality Now as the most recognized and effective organization helping women and girls around the world. It is our goal to expand the organization’s size and global reach and fully bring Equality Now into the digital age. We are at a pivotal point in the fight for gender equality and we hope we can count on your continued support—in your actions and words—to fulfill Equality Now’s vision of a world where women and men have equal rights under the law and full enjoyment of those rights. Colette De Troy, (far left) and Sue Smalley, Ph.D.

2012 Annual Report . 21

Staff Global Yasmeen Hassan, Global Director Suzanna Finley, Executive Assistant Caroline Berger, Website & Social Media Manager New York Tzili Mor, Director (Jan-Jun) Lauren Hersh, Director Kristen Berg, Program Officer Catherine Brandli, Development Director Antonia Kirkland, Legal Advisor Toniya Katsarov, Database Manager Priscillann Simpson, Sr. Accountant/ HR Admininstrator Cossette Rivera, Office Manager Mehr Qureshi, Program Officer Amanda Sullivan, Women’s Action Network Director Maya Ibars, Legal Fellow Washington, Dc Shelby Quast, Senior Policy Advisor Nairobi Faiza Jama Mohamed, Director Mary Ciugu, Office Manager Alexandriah Muhanji, Program Officer Caroline Muthoni Muriithi, Program Officer Grace Uwizeye, Program Officer London Jacqueline Hunt, Director Efua Dorkenoo, Advocacy Director, FGM Programme Claire Dupuy, Office Manager Andrea Matolcsi, Programme Officer Anber Raz, Programme Officer Brendan Wynne, Media Officer consultants Suad Abu-Dayyeh Karen Asare Catharine Bufalino Kenneth Franzblau Brenda Kombo Shoji Masuzawa Ingrid Rogers Alice Sciara Eugenia Temba 22 . Equality Now

Top to Bottom: New York, Nairobi and London office staff

InteRnS London Shanta Bhavnani Jessica Collins Aura Freeman Manpreet Lally Nairobi Matthew Echelman Shelia Endekwa Sophie Henning Muthoni Mucheru Angeline Omollo Valerie Uwimana Olivia Weber

New York Niat Amare Rehman Azhar Aude Coquatrix Alexandra Jachanova Dolezelova Saba Haroon Sheyda Joolharzadeh Tessa Kelly Maria Manickam Zara Mian Andriana Peck Lauren Shohat Janey Stephenson Tristan Sullivan Wilson Miranda Tomic Nikki Weishoff

Financial Statement Statement of FINANCIAL POSITION

ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents Investments Contributions and grants receivable Prepaid expenses Property and equipment, net Other assets Beneficial Interest trust Total assets LIABILITIES Accounts payable and accrued expenses Grants payable Deferred revenue Deferred rent Total liabilities NET ASSETS Unrestricted Temporarily restricted Total net assets Total liabilities and net assets

2012

$1,834,059 994,583 2,345,785 12,301 36,992 41,550 97,372 $5,362,642 $77,698 - 168,343 - $246,041

2011

$1,175,403 977,448 377,788 68,278 42,754 45,114 101,896 $2,788,681 $157,312 10,000 156,175 $323,487

$2,014,131 3,102,470 $5,116,601 $5,362,642

$1,492,536 972,658 $2,465,194 $2,788,681

Unrestricted Net ASSETS 2012 Public support and revenue Contributions and grants Foundations $750,759 Individual donors 439,706 Corporations 149,333 Special events, net 339,462 Donated goods and services 252,403 Investment income 21,033 Net realized currency loss 17,168 Other income 104,836 Public support and revenue before release of restrictions 2,074,700 Net assets released from restrictions 1,916,376 Total public support and revenue 3,991,076 Expenses Program services Sexual Violence 662,852 FGM Program 508,489 Trafficking Program 467,412 Discrimination in Law 594,225 Outreach 306,772 Donor Direct Action 338,436 Total program services 2,878,186 Supporting services Management and general 355,290 Fund-raising 236,005 Total supporting services 591,295 Total expenses 3,469,481 (Decrease) increase in unrestricted net assets 521,595 TEMPORARILY RESTRICTED NET ASSETS Contributions 4,046,188 Net assets released from restrictions (1,916,376) Increase in temporarily restricted net assets 2,129,812 Total increase in temporarily restricted and unrestricted net assets 2,651,407 Net assets: January 1 2,465,194 Net assets: December 31 $5,116,601

2011

StatementS of ACTIVITIES

$882,289 662,087 36,903 258,410 11,626 (36,110) 32,528 1,847,733 1,792,608 3,640,341 737,143 582,793 595,093 490,141 324,189 2,729,359 580,926 235,550 816,476 3,545,835 94,506 1,016,374 (1,792,608) (776,234) (681,728) 3,146,922 $2,465,194

2012 Annual Report . 23

20 years of

PROTECTING AND PROMOTING THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS AROUND THE WORLD

Take action: www.equalitynow.org/actions Donate: www.equalitynow.org/support Get involved: www.equalitynow.org/get-involved Educate yourself: www.equalitynow.org/resources

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24 . Equality Now

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